Ash tray-vehicle



Oct. 15, 1957 w. HAMMESFAHR ASH TRAY VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1953 INVENTOR. M'/// /-/ammesfahr BY M /%WTTORIVEY ASH TRAY VEHICLE Filed NOV. 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheer. 2

IN VEN TOR.

1Thisinyierition. .re1ates. to. an ash:- Iray and niortpartit 1i1arlifiltdadrawer typcashtray.adapd to lieiinta1ld in the instrument panel of an autornobile or other vehicle.

The conventional drawer type ash tray used in vehicles comprises an ash rcceiving drawer slidable within a guide receptacle. A snug fit of drawer and receptacle is necessary to prevent rattling sounds when the vehiclc is proceeding on the road. This snug fit results in an increased friction between the fitting surfaces, thus rendering it more difficult to move the drawer outwardly and inwardly and creating an unwelcome grating noise n such movernent.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide an ash tray of the drawer type which is easily slidable relative to the guide receptacle although closely guided therein, the close guide prevcnting rattling and grating noises. The invention provides for the mounting of the drawer on rollers, the rollers preferably being arranged on the sidc Walls of the guide receptacle and thus maintaining the drawer intcrspaced from the guide walls of the receptacle.

In accordance With the invention, a simple construction easily manufacturcd may be accomplished by providing openings in the side walls of the receptacle, one for ea ch desired rollen The rollers ar-e held in their respective openings by the provision of bearing means formed by depressing a portion of the metal adjacent the openings and by laneing out retaining tongues above the depressions. For reasons of simplication and economic2ll use of materials, the invention preferably provides tw0 rollers in each side Wall of the receptacle, said rollers running in corresponding grooves of the drawer.

Further objects and features of the particular ernbodiments of the invention herein illustrated Will appear in the following description, refcrence being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference numerals designate C01- responding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the ash tray embodying the present invention, the drawer being shown in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section view of the ash tray With the drawcr being shown in open position.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the drawer supporting elements.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially along line 55 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not Iirnited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accornpanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodimenfs and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understo0d that the phraseology riiteci Stat esj Patcrit embod ment ..off the;-present:invengiona3 1'3r re"siatiVe' y. ef13i hldi in p"ositiciri viiiihiriflth"-fci5tld- 1"1 b'Y means 6i 11l513 a'r= faiigd ir'i 615136st1 1iii's".air'i 1*ndii'ritd =15rfefaBI-Y =in= 'di side walls 16 of the receptacle. The flanges 17 of the rollers 15 engage grooves 18 in the side walls 19 of the drawer 13. This manner of engagernent secures a straight guidance both in the horizontal and vertical plane of movernent.

Preferably the shafts 20 of the rollers 15 am journalled in the side walls of the receptacle 11. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the side walls of the receptacle 11 am punched out to forrn openings 21. The metal. at the upper and lower edges of the opening 21 is depressed to form semi-cylindrical shaft receiving recesses 22 to serve as bearing surfaces. The shaft 20 ends are retained in the recesses 22 by folded over tongues 23 which are punched or lanced out of the material of the receptacle side walls 16.

A releasable retaining device is provided for preventing complete withdrawal of the tray or drawer 13 except when necessary to permit emptying thereof. As shown in Fig. 2, a spring mernber 24 is secured by a retaining strip 25 to the back wa1l 26 of the drawer. The spring eirtends in a substantially horizontal direction and has secured to its upper surface an abutment 27 adapted to engage an overhanging lip 28 of the front opening 12 of the receptacle 11. By depressing the f1ee end 29 of the spring 24, the abutment will be permitted to pass under the overhanging lip 28. It will be noted that the grooves 18 extend substantially to the rear edge of the drawer side walls 19 permitting the roller flanges 17 to roll out of contact with the grooves 18.

The foregoing construction has the advantage that it is not necessary in the process of manufacture to pay special attention to the accurate surfacing and dimensioning of the guiding and guided side Walls of the receptacle and the drawer. The interspace or clearance between the receptacle and drawer side walls perrnit them to be fabricated in any convenient manner such as soldering the scams thereof.

It wil1be readily understood that the receptacle, 11 would not have to be a closed receptacle but could be an open frarnework having the side panels 16 or the por tion thereof supporting the rollers 15.

I claim:

1. An ash tray device adapted co be mounted in a vehicle panel comprising a receptacle fastened within said panel, a drawer removably received in said receptacle, toller means comprising flangcd rollers having shaft portions, and bearing means carried by the side mernbers or' said receptacle journalling said shaft portions for turning movement about vertical axes, said toller flanges cooperating with guide grooves in the drawer side walls to support the drawer for inward and outward movement Plane of said side members, said roller flang es cooperating with guide grooves in the drawer side walls to support the drawer for inward and outward movement relative to the receptacle, said drawer being supported solely 10 by said rollers within said receptaele with an interspace on all sides thereof.

' 3. An ash tray device adapted to be mounted in a vehicle panel comprising a receptacle fastened within said panel, a drawer removably received in said receptacle, roller means comprising flanged rollers having shaft portions, and bearing means carried by the side members of said receptacle journalling said shaft portions, said receptacle side members having openings providing for the mounting of said rollers with the roller shaft axes in the plane cf said side members, said roller flanges cooperating with guide grooves in the drawer side walls to support the drawer for inward and outward movement relative to the receptacle, said rollers and guides being located substantially centrally of the top and bottom of the receptacle and drawer, said drawer being supported solely by said rollers within the receptacle with an interspace 0n all sides thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

